Mishemokwa The Origin Of The Small Black Bear

: The Myth Of Hiawatha

AN OTTOWA LEGEND.





In a remote part of the north lived a great magician called Iamo, and

his only sister, who had never seen a human being. Seldom, if ever, had

the man any cause to go from home; for, as his wants demanded food, he

had only to go a little distance from the lodge, and there, in some

particular spot, place his arrows, with their barbs in the ground.

Telling his sister where the
had been placed, every morning she would

go in search, and never fail of finding each struck through the heart of

a deer. She had then only to drag them into the lodge and prepare their

food. Thus she lived till she attained womanhood, when one day her

brother said to her, "Sister, the time is near at hand when you will be

ill. Listen to my advice. If you do not, it will probably be the cause

of my death. Take the implements with which we kindle our fires. Go some

distance from our lodge, and build a separate fire. When you are in want

of food, I will tell you where to find it. You must cook for yourself,

and I will for myself. When you are ill, do not attempt to come near the

lodge, or bring any of the utensils you use. Be sure always to fasten to

your belt the implements you need, for you do not know when the time

will come. As for myself, I must do the best I can." His sister promised

to obey him in all he had said.



Shortly after, her brother had cause to go from home. She was alone in

her lodge, combing her hair. She had just untied the belt to which the

implements were fastened, when suddenly the event, to which her brother

had alluded, occurred. She ran out of the lodge, but in her haste

forgot the belt. Afraid to return, she stood for some time thinking.

Finally she decided to enter the lodge and get it. For, thought she, my

brother is not at home, and I will stay but a moment to catch hold of

it. She went back. Running in suddenly, she caught hold of it, and was

coming out when her brother came in sight. He knew what was the matter.

"Oh," he said, "did I not tell you to take care? But now you have

killed me." She was going on her way, but her brother said to her,

"What can you do there now? the accident has happened. Go in, and stay

where you have always stayed. And what will become of you? You have

killed me."



He then laid aside his hunting dress and accoutrements, and soon after

both his feet began to inflame and turn black, so that he could not

move. Still he directed his sister where to place the arrows, that she

might always have food. The inflammation continued to increase, and had

now reached his first rib; and he said, "Sister, my end is near. You

must do as I tell you. You see my medicine-sack, and my war-club tied

to it. It contains all my medicines, and my war-plumes, and my paints

of all colors. As soon as the inflammation reaches my breast, you will

take my war-club. It has a sharp point, and you will cut off my head.

When it is free from my body, take it, place its neck in the sack,

which you must open at one end. Then hang it up in its former place. Do

not forget my bow and arrows. One of the last you will take to procure

food. The remainder tie to my sack, and then hang it up, so that I can

look towards the door. Now and then I will speak to you, but not

often." His sister again promised to obey.



In a little time his breast was affected. "Now," said he, "take the

club and strike off my head." She was afraid, but he told her to muster

courage. "Strike," said he, and a smile was on his face. Mustering

all her courage, she gave the blow and cut off the head. "Now," said

the head, "place me where I told you." And fearfully she obeyed it in

all its commands. Retaining its animation, it looked around the lodge

as usual, and it would command its sister to go to such places as it

thought would procure for her the flesh of different animals she

needed. One day the head said, "The time is not distant when I shall be

freed from this situation, but I shall have to undergo many sore evils.

So the Superior Manito decrees, and I must bear all patiently." In this

situation we must leave the head.



In a certain part of the country was a village inhabited by a numerous

and warlike band of Indians. In this village was a family of ten young

men--brothers. It was in the spring of the year that the youngest of

these blackened his face and fasted. His dreams were propitious. Having

ended his fast, he sent secretly for his brothers at night, so that

none in the village could overhear or find out the direction they

intended to go. Though their drum was heard, yet that was a common

occurrence. Having ended the usual formalities, he told them how

favorable his dreams were, and that he had called them together to know

if they would accompany him in a war excursion. They all answered they

would. The third brother from the eldest, noted for his oddities,

coming up with his war-club when his brother had ceased speaking,

jumped up, "Yes," said he, "I will go, and this will be the way I

will treat those we are going to fight;" and he struck the post in the

centre of the lodge, and gave a yell. The others spoke to him, saying,

"Slow, slow, Mudjikewis, when you are in other people's lodges." So he

sat down. Then, in turn, they took the drum, and sang their songs, and

closed with a feast. The youngest told them not to whisper their

intention even to their wives, but secretly to prepare for their

journey. They all promised obedience, and Mudjikewis was the first to

say so.



The time for their departure drew near. Word was given to assemble on a

certain night, when they would depart immediately. Mudjikewis was loud

in his demands for his moccasins. Several times his wife asked him the

reason. "Besides," said she, "you have a good pair on." "Quick, quick,"

he said, "since you must know, we are going on a war excursion. So be

quick." He thus revealed the secret. That night they met and started.

The snow was on the ground, and they travelled all night, lest others

should follow them. When it was daylight, the leader took snow and made

a ball of it; then tossing it into the air, he said, "It was in this

way I saw snow fall in my dream, so that I could not be tracked." And

he told them to keep close to each other for fear of losing themselves,

as the snow began to fall in very large flakes. Near as they walked, it

was with difficulty they could see each other. The snow continued

falling all that day and the following night. So it was impossible to

track them.



They had now walked for several days, and Mudjikewis was always in the

rear. One day, running suddenly forward, he gave the Saw-saw-quan,[63]

and struck a tree with his war-club, which broke into pieces as if

struck with lightning. "Brothers," said he, "this will be the way I

will serve those whom we are going to fight." The leader answered,

"Slow, slow, Mudjikewis. The one I lead you to is not to be thought of

so lightly." Again he fell back and thought to himself, "What, what:

Who can this be he is leading us to?" He felt fearful, and was silent.

Day after day they travelled on, till they came to an extensive plain,

on the borders of which human bones were bleaching in the sun. The

leader spoke. "They are the bones of those who have gone before us.

None has ever yet returned to tell the sad tale of their fate." Again

Mudjikewis became restless, and, running forward, gave the accustomed

yell. Advancing to a large rock which stood above the ground, he struck

it, and it fell to pieces. "See, brothers," said he, "thus will I treat

those whom we are going to fight." "Still, still," once more said the

leader; "he to whom I am leading you is not to be compared to that

rock."



Mudjikewis fell back quite thoughtful, saying to himself, "I wonder who

this can be that he is going to attack." And he was afraid. Still they

continued to see the remains of former warriors, who had been to the

place where they were now going, some of whom had retreated as far

back as the place where they first saw the bones, beyond which no one

had ever escaped. At last they came to a piece of rising ground, from

which they plainly distinguished, sleeping on a distant mountain, a

mammoth bear.



The distance between them was great, but the size of the animal caused

him plainly to be seen. "There," said the leader, "it is he to whom I

am leading you; here our troubles only will commence, for he is a

Mishemokwa[64] and a Manito. It is he who has that we prize so dearly

(i.e., wampum), to obtain which, the warriors whose bones we saw

sacrificed their lives. You must not be fearful. Be manly. We shall

find him asleep." They advanced boldly till they came near, when they

stopped to view him more closely. He was asleep. Then the leader went

forward and touched the belt around the animal's neck. "This," he said,

"is what we must get. It contains the wampum." They then requested the

eldest to try and slip the belt over the bear's head, who appeared to

be fast asleep, as he was not in the least disturbed by the attempt to

obtain it. All their efforts were in vain, till it came to the one next

the youngest. He tried, and the belt moved nearly over the monster's

head, but he could get it no further. Then the youngest one and leader

made his attempt, and succeeded. Placing it on the back of the oldest,

he said, "Now we must run," and off they started. When one became

fatigued with its weight, another would relieve him. Thus they ran till

they had passed the bones of all former warriors, and were some

distance beyond, when, looking back, they saw the monster slowly

rising. He stood some time before he missed his wampum. Soon they heard

his tremendous howl, like distant thunder, slowly filling all the sky;

and then they heard him speak and say, "Who can it be that has dared to

steal my wampum? Earth is not so large but that I can find them." And

he descended from the hill in pursuit. As if convulsed, the earth shook

with every jump he made. Very soon he approached the party. They

however kept the belt, exchanging it from one to another, and

encouraging each other. But he gained on them fast. "Brothers," said

the leader, "has never any one of you, when fasting, dreamed of some

friendly spirit who would aid you as a guardian?" A dead silence

followed. "Well," said he, "fasting, I dreamed of being in danger of

instant death, when I saw a small lodge, with smoke curling from its

top. An old man lived in it, and I dreamed he helped me. And may it be

verified soon," he said, running forward and giving the peculiar yell,

and a howl as if the sounds came from the depths of his stomach, and

which is called Checau-dum. Getting upon a piece of rising ground,

behold! a lodge, with smoke curling from its top, appeared. This gave

them all new strength, and they ran forward and entered it. The leader

spoke to the old man who sat in the lodge saying, "Nemesho,[65] help

us. We claim your protection, for the great bear will kill us." "Sit

down and eat, my grandchildren," said the old man. "Who is a great

Manito?" said he, "there is none but me; but let me look," and he

opened the door of the lodge, when lo! at a little distance he saw the

enraged animal coming on, with slow but powerful leaps. He closed the

door. "Yes," said he, "he is indeed a great Manito. My grandchildren,

you will be the cause of my losing my life. You asked my protection,

and I granted it; so now come what may, I will protect you. When the

bear arrives at the door, you must run out of the other end of the

lodge." Then putting his hand to the side of the lodge where he sat, he

brought out a bag, which he opened. Taking out two small black dogs, he

placed them before him. "These are the ones I use when I fight," said

he; and he commenced patting, with both hands, the sides of one of

them, and they began to swell out, so that he soon filled the lodge by

his bulk. And he had great strong teeth. When he attained his full size

he growled, and from that moment, as from instinct, he jumped out at

the door and met the bear, who in another leap would have reached the

lodge. A terrible combat ensued. The skies rang with the howls of the

fierce monsters. The remaining dog soon took the field. The brothers,

at the onset, took the advice of the old man, and escaped through the

opposite side of the lodge. They had not proceeded far before they

heard the dying cry of one of the dogs, and soon after of the other.

"Well," said the leader, "the old man will share their fate; so run,

run, he will soon be after us." They started with fresh vigor, for they

had received food from the old man; but very soon the bear came in

sight, and again was fast gaining upon them. Again the leader asked the

brothers if they could do nothing for their safety. All were silent.

The leader, running forward, did as before. "I dreamed," he cried,

"that, being in great trouble, an old man helped me who was a Manito.

We shall soon see his lodge." Taking courage, they still went on. After

going a short distance they saw the lodge of the old Manito. They

entered immediately and claimed his protection, telling him a Manito

was after them. The old man, setting meat before them, said, "Eat. Who

is a Manito? there is no Manito but me. There is none whom I fear." And

the earth trembled as the monster advanced. The old man opened the door

and saw him coming. He shut it slowly, and said, "Yes, my

grandchildren, you have brought trouble upon me." Procuring his

medicine sack, he took out his small war-clubs of black stone, and told

the young men to run through the other side of the lodge. As he handled

the clubs they became very large, and the old man stepped out just as

the bear reached the door. Then striking him with one of the clubs, it

broke in pieces. The bear stumbled. Renewing the attempt with the other

war-club, that also was broken, but the bear fell senseless. Each blow

the old man gave him sounded like a clap of thunder, and the howls of

the bear ran along till they filled the heavens.



The young men had now ran some distance, when they looked back. They

could see that the bear was recovering from the blows. First he moved

his paws, and soon they saw him rise on his feet. The old man shared

the fate of the first, for they now heard his cries as he was torn in

pieces. Again the monster was in pursuit, and fast overtaking them. Not

yet discouraged, the young men kept on their way; but the bear was now

so close, that the leader once more applied to his brothers, but they

could do nothing. "Well," said he, "my dreams will soon be exhausted.

After this I have but one more." He advanced, invoking his guardian

spirit to aid him. "Once," said he, "I dreamed that, being sorely

pressed, I came to a large lake, on the shore of which was a canoe,

partly out of water, having ten paddles all in readiness. Do not fear,"

he cried, "we shall soon get to it." And so it was, even as he had

said. Coming to the lake, they saw the canoe with ten paddles, and

immediately they embarked. Scarcely had they reached the centre of the

lake, when they saw the bear arrive at its borders. Lifting himself on

his hind legs, he looked all around. Then he waded into the water; then

losing his footing, he turned back, and commenced making the circuit of

the lake. Meanwhile, the party remained stationary in the centre to

watch his movements. He travelled around, till at last he came to the

place from whence he started. Then he commenced drinking up the water,

and they saw the current fast setting in towards his open mouth. The

leader encouraged them to paddle hard for the opposite shore. When only

a short distance from land, the current had increased so much, that

they were drawn back by it, and all their efforts to reach it were

vain.



Then the leader again spoke, telling them to meet their fates manfully.

"Now is the time, Mudjikewis," said he, "to show your prowess. Take

courage, and sit in the bow of the canoe; and when it approaches his

mouth, try what effect your club will have on his head." He obeyed, and

stood ready to give the blow; while the leader, who steered, directed

the canoe for the open mouth of the monster.



Rapidly advancing, they were just about to enter his mouth, when

Mudjikewis struck him a tremendous blow on the head, and gave the

saw-saw-quan. The bear's limbs doubled under him, and he fell stunned

by the blow. But before Mudjikewis could renew it the monster disgorged

all the water he had drank, with a force which sent the canoe with

great velocity to the opposite shore. Instantly leaving the canoe,

again they fled, and on they went till they were completely exhausted.

The earth again shook, and soon they saw the monster hard after them.

Their spirits drooped, and they felt discouraged. The leader exerted

himself, by actions and words, to cheer them up; and once more he asked

them if they thought of nothing, or could do nothing for their rescue;

and, as before, all were silent. "Then," he said, "this is the last

time I can apply to my guardian spirit. Now if we do not succeed, our

fates are decided." He ran forward, invoking his spirit with great

earnestness, and gave the yell. "We shall soon arrive," said he to his

brothers, "to the place where my last guardian spirit dwells. In him I

place great confidence. Do not, do not be afraid, or your limbs will be

fear-bound. We shall soon reach his lodge. Run, run," he cried.



They were now in sight of the lodge of Iamo, the magician of the

undying head--of that great magician whose life had been the forfeit of

the kind of necromantic leprosy caused by the careless steps of the

fatal curse of uncleanliness in his sister. This lodge was the sacred

spot of expected relief to which they had been fleeing, from the

furious rage of the giant Bear, who had been robbed of her precious

boon, the magis-sauniqua. For it had been the design of many previous

war parties to obtain this boon.



In the mean time, the undying head of Iamo had remained in the medicine

sack, suspended on the sides of his wigwam, where his sister had placed

it, with its mystic charms, and feathers, and arrows. This head

retained all life and vitality, keeping its eyes open, and directing

its sister, in order to procure food, where to place the magic arrows,

and speaking at long intervals. One day the sister saw the eyes of the

head brighten, as if through pleasure. At last it spoke. "Oh! sister,"

it said, "in what a pitiful situation you have been the cause of

placing me. Soon, very soon, a party of young men will arrive and apply

to me for aid; but, alas! how can I give what I would have done with

so much pleasure. Nevertheless, take two arrows, and place them where

you have been in the habit of placing the others, and have meat

prepared and cooked before they arrive. When you hear them coming and

calling on my name, go out and say, 'Alas! it is long ago that an

accident befell him; I was the cause of it.' If they still come near,

ask them in and set meat before them. And now you must follow my

directions strictly. When the bear is near, go out and meet him. You

will take my medicine sack, bows and arrows, and my head. You must then

untie the sack, and spread out before you my paints of all colors, my

war eagle feathers, my tufts of dried hair, and whatever else it

contains. As the bear approaches, you will take all these articles, one

by one, and say to him, 'This is my deceased brother's paint,' and so

on with all the other articles, throwing each of them as far from you

as you can. The virtues contained in them will cause him to totter;

and, to complete his destruction, you will take my head, and that too

you will cast as far off as you can, crying aloud, 'See, this is my

deceased brother's head.' He will then fall senseless. By this time the

young men will have eaten, and you will call them to your assistance.

You must then cut the carcass into pieces, yes, into small pieces,

and scatter them to the four winds; for, unless you do this, he will

again revive." She promised that all should be done as he said. She had

only time to prepare the meat, when the voice of the leader was heard

calling upon Iamo for aid. The woman went out and invited them in as

her brother had directed. But the war party, being closely pursued,

came promptly up to the lodge. She invited them in, and placed the meat

before them. While they were eating they heard the bear approaching.

Untying the medicine sack and taking the head, she had all in readiness

for his approach. When he came up, she did as she had been told.

"Behold, Mishemokwa," she cried, "this is the meda sack of Iamo. These

are war eagle's feathers of Iamo (casting them aside). These are magic

arrows of Iamo (casting them down). These are the sacred paints and

magic charms of Iamo. These are dried tufts of the hair of furious

beasts. And this (swinging it with all her might) is his undying head."

The monster began to totter, as she cast one thing after the other on

the ground, but still recovering strength, came close up to the woman

till she flung the head. As it rolled along the ground, the blood,

excited by the feelings of the head in this terrible scene, gushed from

the nose and mouth. The bear, tottering, soon fell with a tremendous

noise. Then she cried for help, and the young men came rushing out,

having partially regained their strength and spirits.



Mudjikewis, stepping up, gave a yell, and struck the monster a blow

upon the head. This he repeated till it seemed like a mass of brains;

while the others, as quick as possible, cut him into very small pieces,

which they then scattered in every direction. While thus employed,

happening to look around where they had thrown the meat, wonderful to

behold! they saw, starting up and running off in every direction, small

black bears, such as are seen at the present day. The country was soon

overspread with these black animals. And it was from this monster that

the present race of bears, the mukwahs, derived their origin.



Having thus overcome their pursuer, they returned to the lodge. In the

mean time, the woman, gathering the implements she had scattered, and

the head, placed them again in the sack. But the head did not speak

again.



The war party were now triumphant, but they did not know what use to

make of their triumph. Having spent so much time, and traversed so vast

a country in their flight, the young men gave up the idea of ever

returning to their own country, and game being plenty, they determined

to remain where they now were, and make this their home. One day they

moved off some distance from the lodge for the purpose of hunting,

having left the wampum captured with the woman. They were very

successful, and amused themselves, as all young men do when alone, by

talking and jesting with each other. One of them spoke and said, "We

have all this sport to ourselves; let us go and ask our sister if she

will not let us bring the head to this place, as it is still alive. It

may be pleased to hear us talk and be in our company. In the mean time,

we will take food to our sister." They went, and requested the head.

She told them to take it, and they took it to their hunting-grounds,

and tried to amuse it, but only at times did they see its eyes beam

with pleasure. One day, while busy in their encampment, they were

unexpectedly attacked by unknown Indians. The skirmish was long

contested and bloody. Many of their foes were slain, but still they

were thirty to one. The young men fought desperately till they were all

killed. The attacking party then retreated to a height of ground, to

muster their men, and to count the number of missing and slain. One of

their young men had strayed away, and, in endeavoring to overtake them,

came to the place where the undying head was hung up. Seeing that alone

retain animation, he eyed it for some time with fear and surprise.

However, he took it down and opened the sack, and was much pleased to

see the beautiful feathers, one of which he placed on his head.



Starting off, it waved gracefully over him till he reached his party,

when he threw down the head and sack, and told them how he had found

it, and that the sack was full of paints and feathers. They all looked

at the head and made sport of it. Numbers of the young men took up the

paint and painted themselves, and one of the party took the head by the

hair and said, "Look, you ugly thing, and see your paints on the faces

of warriors." But the feathers were so beautiful, that numbers of them

also placed them on their heads. Then again they used all kinds of

indignity to the head, for which they were in turn repaid by the death

of those who had used the feathers. Then the chief commanded them to

throw all away except the head. "We will see," said he, "when we get

home, what we can do to it. We will try to make it shut its eyes."



When they reached their homes they took it to the council lodge, and

hung it up before the fire, fastening it with raw hide soaked, which

would shrink and become tightened by the action of the fire. "We will

then see," they said, "if we cannot make it shut its eyes."



Meanwhile, for several days, the sister of Iamo had been waiting for

the young men to bring back the head; till at last, getting impatient,

she went in search of it. The young men she found lying within short

distances of each other, dead, and covered with wounds. Various other

bodies lay scattered in different directions around them. She searched

for the head and sack, but they were nowhere to be found. She raised

her voice and wept, and blackened her face. Then she walked in

different directions, till she came to the place from whence the head

had been taken. There she found the magic bow and arrows, where the

young men, ignorant of their qualities, had left them. She thought to

herself that she would find her brother's head, and came to a piece of

rising ground, and there saw some of his paints and feathers. These she

carefully put up, and hung upon the branch of a tree till her return.



At dusk she arrived at the first lodge of the enemy, in a very

extensive village. Here she used a charm, common among Indians when

they wish to meet with a kind reception. On applying to the old man and

woman of the lodge, she was kindly received. She made known her errand.

The old man promised to aid her, and told her that the head was hung up

before the council fire, and that the chiefs of the village, with their

young men, kept watch over it continually. The former are considered as

Manitoes. She said she only wished to see it, and would be satisfied if

she could only get to the door of the lodge. She knew she had not

sufficient power to take it by force. "Come with me," said the Indian,

"I will take you there." They went, and they took their seats near the

door. The council lodge was filled with warriors, amusing themselves

with games, and constantly keeping up a fire to smoke the head, as they

said, to make dry meat. They saw the eyes move, and not knowing what to

make of it, one spoke and said, "Ha! ha! it is beginning to feel the

effects of the smoke." The sister looked up from the door, and as her

eyes met those of her brother, tears rolled down the cheeks of the

undying head. "Well," said the chief, "I thought we would make you do

something at last. Look! look at it--shedding tears," said he to those

around him; and they all laughed and passed their jokes upon it. The

chief, looking around and observing the woman, after some time said to

the old man who came with her, "Who have you got there? I have never

seen that woman before in our village." "Yes," replied the man, "you

have seen her; she is a relation of mine, and seldom goes out. She

stays in my lodge, and asked me to allow her to come with me to this

place." In the centre of the lodge sat one of those vain young men who

are always forward, and fond of boasting and displaying themselves

before others. "Why," said he, "I have seen her often, and it is to his

lodge I go almost every night to court her." All the others laughed and

continued their games. The young man did not know he was telling a lie

to the woman's advantage, who by that means escaped scrutiny.



She returned to the old man's lodge, and immediately set out for her

own country. Coming to the spot where the bodies of her adopted

brothers lay, she placed them together, their feet toward the east.

Then taking an axe which she had, she cast it up into the air, crying

out, "Brothers, get up from under it, or it will fall on you." This she

repeated three times, and the third time the brothers all arose and

stood on their feet.



Mudjikewis commenced rubbing his eyes and stretching himself. "Why,"

said he, "I have overslept myself." "No, indeed," said one of the

others, "do you not know we were all killed, and that is our sister who

has brought us to life?" The young men took the bodies of their enemies

and burned them. Soon after, the woman went to procure wives for

them, in a distant country, they knew not where; but she returned with

ten young females, which she gave to the young men, beginning with the

eldest. Mudjikewis stepped to and fro, uneasy lest he should not get

the one he liked. But he was not disappointed, for she fell to his lot.

And they were well matched, for she was a female magician. They then

all moved into a very large lodge, and their sister Iamoqua told them

that the women must now take turns in going to her brother's head every

night, trying to untie it. They all said they would do so with

pleasure. The eldest made the first attempt, and with a rushing noise

she fled through the air.



Towards daylight she returned. She had been unsuccessful, as she

succeeded in untying only one of the knots. All took their turns

regularly, and each one succeeded in untying only one knot each time.

But when the youngest went, she commenced the work as soon as she

reached the lodge; although it had always been occupied, still the

Indians never could see any one, for they all possessed invisibility.

For ten nights now, the smoke had not ascended, but filled the lodge

and drove them out. This last night they were all driven out, and the

young woman carried off the head.



The young people and the sister heard the young woman coming high

through the air, and they heard her saying, "Prepare the body of our

brother." And as soon as they heard it, they went to a small lodge

where the black body of Iamo lay. His sister commenced cutting the neck

part, from which the head had been severed. She cut so deep as to cause

it to bleed; and the others who were present, by rubbing the body and

applying medicines, expelled the blackness. In the mean time, the one

who brought it, by cutting the neck of the head, caused that also to

bleed.



As soon as she arrived, they placed that close to the body, and by the

aid of medicines and various other means, succeeded in restoring Iamo

to all his former beauty and manliness. All rejoiced in the happy

termination of their troubles, and they had spent some time joyfully

together, when Iamo said, "Now I will divide the wampum;" and getting

the belt which contained it, he commenced with the eldest, giving it in

equal proportions. But the youngest got the most splendid and

beautiful, as the bottom of the belt held the richest and rarest.



They were told that, since they had all once died, and were restored to

life, they were no longer mortals, but spirits, and they were

assigned different stations in the invisible world. Only Mudjikewis's

place was, however, named. He was to direct the west wind, hence

generally called Kabeyun, the father of Manabozho, there to remain

forever. They were commanded, as they had it in their power, to do good

to the inhabitants of the earth; and forgetting their sufferings in

procuring the wampum, to give all things with a liberal hand. And they

were also commanded that it should also be held by them sacred;

those grains or shells of the pale hue to be emblematic of peace, while

those of the darker hue would lead to evil and to war.



The spirits, then, amid songs and shouts, took their flight to their

respective abodes on high; while Iamo, with his sister Iamoqua,

descended into the depths below.



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